Cambria County, Pennsylvania Hometown Heroes

Cambria County, Pennsylvania Hometown Heroes. . , These seven men died protecting us from terrorists. They and their families made the ultimate sacrifice for you. We honor them and all the Nation's fallen., Army SGT Christopher A. Golby, originally from Johnstown, PA, died at the age of 26 while on board a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter when it crashed during a Medevac mission in Fallujah, Iraq on 01/08/2004. Golby was a 1995 graduate of Richland High School. According to his parents, he loved flying and planned to be a pilot after leaving the military. Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army PFC Aaron J. Rusin, originally from Johnstown, PA, died at the age of 19. He was shot while driving in a convoy in Baghdad, Iraq on 10/11/2004, less than a month after arriving in Iraq. Rusin was a 2003 graduate of Central Cambria High School. He was a volunteer firefighter and is described as being selfless and dutiful. Rusin excelled in drafting in high school and planned to pursue a career as an architect after leaving the military. Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army SFC Raymond R. Buchan, originally from Johnstown, PA, died at the age of 31 in Ta'meem, Iraq, of wounds sustained from enemy small-arms fire on 7/1/2007. He was a 1991 graduate of Westmont Hilltop High School. He spent his entire adult life in the Army. He loved his work, and he loved his family tremendously. Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Marine SGT Derek L. Shanfield, originally from Hastings, PA, died at the age of 22 while supporting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan on 06/08/2010. He was a 2006 graduate of Cambria Heights High School where he stood out for being a leader and an excellent student. He quickly rose up through the ranks in the Marines and went to Afghanistan ahead of his unit. Shanfield was the first service member from Cambria County to die in Operation Enduring Freedom. Purple Heart, Marine LCPL Joshua T. Twigg, originally from Clymer, PA, died at the age of 21 from hostile fire while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan on 09/02/2010. He was a 2007 graduate of Penns Manor High School where he was an athlete and honor student. Twigg loved hunting, fishing and tinkering with electronics. He was described as being selfless, always putting others first. Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Marine LCPL Ralph J. Fabbri, originally from Gallitzin, PA, died at the age of 20 after being hit by enemy sniper fire while conducting combat operations in Heimand Province, Afghanistan on 09/28/2010. He was a 2008 graduate of Penn Cambria High School where he was active in arts groups. He planned to become an art teacher after his military career. Fabbri was a combat photographer when he was killed in combat. Purple Heart, Army PFC Joshua Mikeasky, originally from Johnstown, PA, died at the age of 19 in a non-combat related incident at Bagram, Afghanistan on 12/13/2018. He was a 2017 graduate of Greater Johnstown High School where he was described as having been exceptionally bright and easy to get along with. Mikeasky is dearly missed by his family.